Calvin: "Short of the villains desecrating Tracy's grave..." [No Time To Die starts urgently scribbling notes.]

Who would want to see Colonel Sun adapted into a proper movie?

Colonel Sun is the best Bond continuation novel for me, the closest we'll get to Fleming. All the others though most enjoyable, we'll all have to except the fact nothing will ever top Fleming's work.

Fun Fact: This story was adapted into a newspaper comic strip by the Daily Express in England in the late 1960's. The strip does a good job of streamlining the book so it is easier to follow. Plus it does stand out for being a more grounded story that the original stories that ran in the Daily Express comics.

Kingsley Amis was a better writer than Fleming--but not a better writer of thrillers or James Bond. I found it a bit slow paced in comparison with Fleming's books, But definitely a knowledgeable and more complex story than most of the continuations. It's a good job.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit! I loved Amis putting M into the plot.

* One of the things that I thought was an interesting anomaly in this novel, was that "005" turns up. This novel tells us that his full name and number is "Stuart Thomas 005", and that he's "Welsh", born and raised in "Wales". The only other thing they tell us about him, is that he was promoted to a desk job due to some sort of problem with one or both of his eyes(they're not very clear what that problem was, other than that he now wears glasses). * Stuart Thomas was promoted to the position of "Head of Station G"(the M.I.6 station house in "Greece"). Also, in the "Colonel Sun" James Bond graphic novel, they show us what Stuart Thomas looks like. The graphic novel is the only source material that shows us what he looks like. The Colonel Sun novel and graphic novel is quite literally the only James Bond story that 005 ever appears in, or is ever mentioned. Just a side note in the annals of Bond lore. "No longer just an anonymous star on the wall of M.I.6 memorial."

Colonel Sun and Solo are the best continuation novels for me. Gardner's are mad but they are a must read, Benson's are similarly oddball, which for me makes them readable. After Benson I'd say most of the continuation books are worth a read.

I'll tell you a funny coincidence. I was half-watching Spectre the other night on TV and then went to bed to finish Colonel Sun and found myself reading the same lines from that torture sequence as are in Spectre. I was pretty shocked as I'd heard nothing about them using this material anywhere. They do credit the estate of Kingsley Amis in the end credits but this was very much below the radar.

Only discovered your wonderful videos a few weeks ago and am still catching up. I didn't know there WAS a Global James Bond Day! Moving forward, it will not go uncelebrated by me.

I read two Bond novels as a boy, as my grandfather had them on his bookshelf. The first was this (ironically with Sean Connery and Kissy on the cover) and I liked it. The other was Moonraker and I thought so boring that I couldn't finish it.

I read "The James Bond Dossier" several years ago. The main thing I remember from it is Amis' being adamant that Sean Connery was completely wrong for the role of 007. It was mainly because he couldn't see Connery pretending to be an English baronet in some then-future adaptation of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Of course, things turned out a bit different from what he'd thought.

Its a risky thing to ask one writer to pick up where another left off. You can do that in TV or comic books, but its harder to do it credibly in plays or novels. A famous example is Scarlett, the sequel to Gone With The Wind. I wonder if Scarlett is even in print today.

I think the "think" Flemming had was that he wrote Bond as an autobiography. It's full of mundane details and thoughts only Bond can know. And Bond was a stand-in for Flemming, so it stands true that Flemmings thoughts turn into Bond's thoughts. Everyone else is writing about a character.

Been waiting for you to cover this one!

First, I love the original cover art. It's like something by Salvador Dali. It has been a while since I read it, I remember the setting being described very vividly - Amis had recently been on holiday to the Aegean sea, so it makes sense that he'd be able to draw upon recent experiences. And it's definitely a very Bondian locale, the sort of place that allowed the reader to escape rain-battered Britain, even if only in their heads - of course, the travelogue aspect was a key component of the Fleming books. I think this book is often looked upon highly compared to the other continuation novels, probably because Kingsley Amis is a highly respected author, easily more respected in the literature world than Ian Fleming was. It's interesting that Purvis & Wade have made attempts to use elements of this book in the film series, I think they're the ones pushing for it - one gets the impression that the Broccolis like keeping the continuation novels at arm's length. I don't know if there's ever been an official line from EON about it, but allegedly Cubby Broccoli made it policy to never adapt any continuation novel, preferring to pay screenwriters to concoct original stories than spending lots of money buying the rights to the CNs, and Babs & Mike are of the same persuasion. I say "allegedly" because all the info I can find seems to all be hearsay on forums. 9:30 Yeah, hang onto that feeling. When you get to Gardner, you'll definitely be going "Well, Bond wouldn't really do that, would he?" For instance, 'Licence Renewed' begins with Bond returning from his weekend cottage in the countryside, and 'Win, Lose or Die' sees Bond apparently best buds with Thatcher and George Bush, not to mention Bond's obsession with Jazz in the Gardner books.

Nice review Calvin. I've still too finish reading the Fleming novels but this review has really got me excited to get onto Colonel Sun.

Pretty interesting stuff, nice one Mr.Dyson.

About time you are finally reviewing the other Bond Novels (Proper continuations of the story not by Ian Fleming) :) Have been waiting for you to do these for ages :P If you need a list here it is: (Its in my favorite reading order not chronological or publication date) Forever and a Day - Anthony Horowitz Trigger Mortis - Anthony Horowitz Colonel Sun - "Robert Markham" Devil May Care - Sebastian Faulks Solo - William Boyd Licence Renewed - John Gardner For Special Services - John Gardner Icebreaker - John Gardner Role of Honour - John Gardner Nobody Lives for Ever - John Gardner No Deals, Mr. Bond - John Gardner Scorpius - John Gardner Win, Lose or Die - John Gardner Licence to Kill (novelization) - John Gardner Brokenclaw - John Gardner The Man from Barbarossa - John Gardner Death Is Forever - John Gardner Never Send Flowers - John Gardner SeaFire - John Gardner COLD - John Gardner GoldenEye (novelization) - John Gardner Tomorrow Never Dies (novelization) - Raymond Benson James Bond: Choice of Weapons (which collects these: Zero Minus Ten The Facts of Death "Midsummer Night's Doom" (short story) "Live at Five" (short story) The Man with the Red Tattoo) - Raymond Benson The World Is Not Enough (novelization) - Raymond Benson James Bond: The Union Trilogy (which collects these: "Blast From the Past"(short story) High Time to Kill DoubleShot Never Dream of Dying) - Raymond Benson Die Another Day (novelization) - Raymond Benson Carte Blanche - Jeffery Deaver Great content ;)

glad to see you doing these books [having read a lot of them I can't wait to hear your thoughts]. Keep up the great work

9:15 you used the nightfire background music. What a legend you are Calvin Dyson!

I do like this novel [particularly with Bill Tanner getting a larger role]. It helps that it was written close to Fleming's final novels and in the same time period rather than trying to imintate the time period/style many years later. An interesting thing is that John Gardner and Raymond Benson novels are in the same continuity as Flemings novels despite not sharing the same style a bit like TNG etc to TOS for the star trek franchise, while the later 'one shot' novels either link to Flemings canon only [other than Jeffery Deaver's novel which is a complete 'sherlock esq' update and stand alone] much like the Kelvin films.

Thank you very much for your perceptive review of a book I read 40 years ago!

I 1st read this in the early 70s. I liked it, but there was something missing. Something that, as you said, was uniquely Fleming. Something I've heard called "the Fleming Sweep." There parts that seemed to drag for me. Have to reread it as it has been a long time since I've last read it. Note: Kingsley Amis was a friend of Ian Fleming. PS: Having read Pearson's authorized biography I suspect there will be some points about it that you & I will strongly agree on.

The fleming touch you rightly allude to I would describe as his voice eminating from a smoke filled room, in the early hours brandy in hand...

Really enjoyed this novel and your review - thank you!

Nice review! Looking forward to the reviews of the John Gardner and Raymond Benson 007 books

I definitely love how the Bond theme comes together into this version while in the background. 11:24

Nice review, I read all the Fleming’s in the early/mid 70s, but it wasn’t till my umpteenth reread earlier this year that I got around to Colonel Sun. Quite enjoyed it.

Glad you loved the book!

Enjoyed that, must reread it soon.

Read this in the 70's. Must find it and read it again as it was the first Bond book I read!!! Have read plenty of Fleming since!!!!

I have never managed to make it all the way through Colonel Sun. I am a big fan of the Fleming novels, and I read through them all about once a year, but I just can't get into Colonel Sun for some reason. I even tried the audiobook, but I just found my mind wandering while I was listening to it.

Have a think if the music works after a couple of minutes. Great review - useful

I read Colonel Sun when I was a teenager and whilst the book begins and end with a bang the middle was incredibly boring and convoluted, so it's surprising to hear you like it so much. As for the films, I knew about Spectre borrowing the torture scene but I didn't know they lifted the dialogue as well. One thing I'm surprised you didn't mention was Silva in Skyfall who seemed very much like Colonel Sun and I always thought Silva should've called Bond 'James' given their history.

Appreciate every time 007 Nightfire game soundtrack plays in the background.

Pleased you're covering these novels. I read it quite a few decades ago and when Skyfall came out I thought... arghh! I thought I was the only person who had read it. And yes, I agree with a previous poster. I really thought at the time that Moon in Die Another Day was a rework of Sun.

Will there be any videos about the film novelisations of The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Licence to Kill, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough or Die Another Day?

I have read many James Bond books by other authors. Some better than others. I will say that colonel sun was the most Fleming like of all of them.

What's with the cool Salvador Dali cover? Still in print?

The next continuation book was supposed to be 'Per fine ounce' Geoffery Jenkins but it was rejected because it wasn't considered up to par.

For me, even the best continuation novels fall short and belong on the shelf underneath the Fleming shelf 😉

Yo Calvin, check out Solo by William Boyd. I remember reading it several years ago when I was around 14 and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Oh also, reviewing the Young Bond book series would be fun too

Colonel Sun, Won't you come, and wash away the rain?

Colonel Sun was not the first Bond continuation novel. That would be 1967's "The Adventures of James Bond Junior 003 1/2" by R.D. Mascott.

I kinda wish Kingsley Amis had made the main villian instead be the one that was ultimately responsible in brainwashing Bond to kill M in the previous novel. I think it would have made more sense for the main villian to personally have it out for 007 and M. Calvin, what do you think of that idea?

There actually was a copyright issue with the name "Colonel Sun" that stopped Eon from using the name and instead they named their villain Colonel Tan-Sun Moon, a not so subtle reference to the novel. What baffles me is that the copyright issue did not came from Kingsley Aims, the author and creator of the character, or Jonathan Cape, the publishing firm that published the novel, but from the Ian Fleming estate which holds the rights to all literary Bond publications it seems, and thusly also the rights to the character of Col. Sun. Since this novel was not among the deal made by Saltzman and Broccoli with Fleming, these elements are not also owned by Danjaq, so Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson could not use the character in their film. What makes this even more confusing, for me at least, from a legal perspective is that they could use dialogue lifted from the book with the permission by Aims's estate. Which, for me, begs the question: Why does the Fleming estate hold the rights to the name Col. Sun but not to the dialogue used in the novel?

rewatching this in 2022 and hearing the 'decimate tracy's grave' line is INTERESTING

I really struggle to get into this one. Have only ever got 1/4 through. I might need to try it just once more.

Probably the best post Fleming novel by far...

Like colonel Sun think it's sad the next book "per fine ounce"was never published as gildrose didn't think it was good enough would still like to read it

To whom, etc.: if you want to read a Kingsley Amis novel, go for "Lucky Jim." A really savage satire of British academia, that I can honestly claim is about the funniest thing I've ever read.

🌤😌R.I.P. Mr. Fleming🙏👼

The torture sequence in Spectre is terrible. I think they added the Colonel sun dialogue to pep up the script. Casino Royale: Le cheiffre is torturing Bond in a last ditch attempt to save his own life. Le Chiffre is constantly on edge throughout. The rope is a relatable implement and the dialogue between Bond and Le Chiffre is excellent in a scene full of tension. Bond is saved but only just. Spectre: Blofeld is torturing Bond for no real reason with a SciFi type gadget. Blofeld looks bored throughout. Dr Swan [also board] saves the day with a gadget and the scene is tensionless.

Cool video I am a James bond fan I want to get in to the bond books

Good review, I can't wait until you get the books by, Sebastian Faulks, William Boyd and Anthony Horrowitz - they're all written in the style of Fleming. The other books by John Gardner and co are not.

100% agreed with your opinion

I've never read any of the books so this guide was enlightening. I have Licence Renewed here but it doesnt seem to be all that interesting. When you said Greek I thought of the Melina Havelock character in For Your Eyes Only, where Bond is sympathetic to the Russians, and Topol wants then dead because they killed his brother, or something...

Did you notice that in OHMSS Bond is from Scotland and Amis takes the opportunity here to make him English again?

Interesting, I've heard bad things about this novel, maybe I might give it a shot

I have only read Colonel Sun once, but it didn;t click with me. I'm probably due to re-read the Bond literary cannon sometime.

I think ''Per Fine Ounce'' was supposed to be the follow up to this

You should review the 007 novels of James Gardner there really great. I wonder why they never adapt them into a film..They really should do that. Maybe in the future with a new actor perhaps? Who knows

1:32 Yes, we shall.

Are you going to read the John Gardner books? They really good.

Glad you enjoyed this one Calvin. I haven't read it for a bit, but I liked it. Just as a side-step: Is anyone else concerned that we still don't know who's doing the theme song to No Time To Die?

I wonder if Roger Moore accepted that Order of Lenin he got at the end of AVTAK if Flemings' Bond turned something similar down.

Literary Bond already /has/ continued without Fleming. Whether they /should/ is another matter. Authors all have different styles so future books won't be the same obviously.

I read that book years ago... From what I remember, that book contains more details than the Fleming's books. Colonel Sun appeared late in the book, the author didn't apply the K.I.S.S. principle so dear to Fleming... I would take a lot more Bond's books written by the same author.

A lot of literary types in the mid-20th century had communist leanings. That's not to say they agreed with what the Soviets or Chinese were doing because I am sure they saw a lot of communism going wrong. But people like Amis were of the opinion that the cold war was silly and the Soviets were not really the enemy. This is hardly a controversial point of view, although it is not something people expressed openly. But, post Stalin/Kruschev, you could imagine Amis telling Fleming that he could lay off on the anti-Soviet thing a bit. That is the direction that Amis follows with Colonel Sun, and we also start to see that in the Bond films of the late 70s and early 80s. Also: I am almost certain Ariadne is based on a real person. I don't mean a famous person, I just mean someone Amis knew. Also Also: My copy of the book has a sinister looking Chinese dude wearing an army uniform and mirrored shades on the front, and it just says Robert Markham. I think it is an original edition from the 1960s - my grandfather bought it. None of that Salvador Dali nonsense.

The one downvote is Colonel Sun.

I had a surreal experience on my drive home from work today, maybe not as surreal as your recent Pierce Brosnan experience but let me share it with you anyway! I am 99% sure Daniel Craig gave way to me in his Bentley at a roundabout near Milton Keynes, slightly surreal! Saw his face briefly and recognised him, so looked back to see the personalised number plate with his initials, which gave me even more reason to believe it was definitely him! 😱 Until I get proof it wasn't him I will believe it was 😜

it always perplexed me how a bond that had all of his adventures before he got married would know about a marriage that hasn't happened yet, connery's bond would not have known about tracy because it hadn't happened yet. just because the movie was produced after lazenby had left doesn't mean it happened after OHMSS.

Kingsley Amis following Fleming was like George Lazenby following Sean Connery all the elements of what we liked were there but lacking the X factor sums it up. Worth a read though.

You're "half-way!?" Aren't there 15 Gardner novels alone? I think you're more roughly 1/3 of the way... especially since most Gardner and Benson novels are *significantly* longer than any book Fleming ever wrote.

No one: Absolutely No one: Calvin: *B E T T E R T H A N M A N W I T H T H E G O L D E N G U N*

I have tried and tried to read this book after devouring Ian Fleming but this novel is awful. If Amis doesn’t write better than this then I don’t understand his staus as a writer. I’ve read hundreds of fiction books and only Z grade Stephen King comes close to this.

Colonel Sun sounds like something they serve at the Panda Express in the mall food court. I never liked the continuation novels. They tried too hard.

"Even more nefarious goals than just Communism." Are there any?